LITTLE BROTHER PUMPKIN HEAD

Name: LITTLE BROTHER PUMPKIN HEAD
Author: Lucia Panzieri
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3537-1

by Lucia Panzieri ; illustrated by Samantha Enria translated by Grace Maccarone ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2016

Ultimately, however, there’s little to distinguish this new-baby story from the others crowding the cabbage…err, pumpkin...

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A little boy joyfully anticipates the birth of a new baby brother in this picture-book import from Italy.

The title comes from the fact that child narrator’s pregnant mother has cravings for all things pumpkin, leading him to dream that the baby has “a pumpkin head—with nothing inside but seeds and pulp.” This leads him on a mission to fill his as-yet–in-utero brother’s head with stories, words, and sounds to make sure the baby will be born with a head full of knowledge. It ends up feeling a bit like something got lost in the translation of the story, but the cartoon images lend humor to the family’s characterization, and it’s refreshing to see a new-baby story that doesn’t get bogged down with older-sibling angst and jealousy. On the other hand, the all-white cast of characters presents a homogenous depiction of the world in which this family lives. At the book’s end, when the baby is born, the big brother and his mother and father joyfully welcome him, and the final page turn brings the story forward to a playful conclusion when the nickname “Pumpkin Head” reappears.

Ultimately, however, there’s little to distinguish this new-baby story from the others crowding the cabbage…err, pumpkin patch. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-8234-3537-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE KINDHEARTED CROCODILE
by Lucia Panzieri ; illustrated by AntonGionata Ferrari

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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CARRY MY HEART WITH YOU

by Danielle McLean ; illustrated by Anna Terreros-Martin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023

Lackluster.

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A parent and child introduce a way to make daily separations a bit easier.

At school drop-off, a parent rabbit comforts a sad child and hands the little one a heart-shaped object: “I’m giving you my heart to hold / whenever I’m not there.” The heart is meant to remind the child of the parent’s love, celebrate the things the child does well, calm worries, express joy, and watch over the child through the night. The book fails to spell out just how the heart does anything other than serve as a reminder of parental love, however. For instance, “Wave the heart above your head / to sing a happy song.” What’s the connection there? The heart is always in the child’s possession, even when the little bunny is with the parent, contradicting the opening premise that it’s for when the two are apart. Most troublingly, unlike a kissing hand, the wooden keepsake heart that comes with the book could easily be lost; with the statements that it’s the parent’s heart and that the love in the heart will never end, losing the token could be quite upsetting. The artwork features adorable cartoon anthropomorphic animals of various species, two of which use wheelchairs. The font sometimes fills in the centers of the lowercase g, o, a, and p letters with hearts, which may cause difficulties for youngsters reading on their own or for those with dyslexia.

Lackluster. (Picture book. 3-6)